The number of organised reading groups in Singapore has grown significantly since 2020. Eventbrite lists over a hundred book club events in any given year, Meetup counts more than 4,600 active members in local reading categories, and NLB's own LearnX Communities programme supports roughly 70 reading-focused groups with between 15 and 60 participants each. Here is a practical overview of where and how readers gather in the city-state.
Non-Fiction Book Clubs
The Saturday Book Club (TSBC)
Founded in July 2022 by Jia Li, TSBC meets on the third Saturday of every month at the Central Library, National Library Building, Basement 1. The format is BYOB (Bring Your Own Book): each attendee chooses a non-fiction title, then discusses it in small groups of four to five people. Sessions run from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Attendance is free, registration is through Eventbrite, and there are no membership fees.
Ibrahim Tahir, the founder of Wardah Books in Kampong Glam, has noted that the post-pandemic interest in face-to-face discussion drove much of the growth in book clubs. TSBC in particular has occasionally drawn more than a hundred attendees for a single session. Participants range from local professionals to expats, and the median age skews younger than most library-based clubs.
Guiding questions for each session follow a simple structure: Why this book? What was the main takeaway? Who should read it? The minimum age is 18.
NLB Book Lovers Club
A bimonthly club at the Central Public Library focused on relationships and inspirational non-fiction. Sessions are listed on the GoLibrary portal. The pace is slower than TSBC, with a single assigned title discussed over two hours. Registration opens two weeks before each session.
Heartlands Book Club
Based at Bukit Batok Public Library since August 2005, this is one of the longest-running community book clubs in Singapore. Discussions centre on Singapore and Asian fiction, award-winning titles, and non-fiction focused on local history. Members meet monthly, with the schedule posted at the library's community board.
Literature and Fiction Clubs
Singapore Literature Book Club
Run at the Central Public Library, this club focuses exclusively on works by Singaporean authors. Recent discussions have included titles from Epigram Books' catalogue and winners from the Singapore Book Awards. Sessions are free and held roughly every six weeks. The club is part of NLB's effort to raise awareness of "Sing Lit," a term now widely used to describe locally published literature.
No Readgrets
Co-founded in 2018 by Elfarina Roszaini, No Readgrets is an independent book club that focuses on Singaporean literature. Elfarina has described the club as a "safe space to discuss and connect with others on issues" raised in locally authored work. Meetings rotate between library venues and cafes.
Quiet and Alternative Formats
Quiet Readers Club
A reading event where attendees bring their own book, read in silence for a set period, and then discuss what they have been reading with other participants. Sessions cost a small fee per person, with registration through Instagram DM. The concept has spread quickly, with similar events now appearing at cafes in Tiong Bahru and Holland Village.
Bookworm Banter by Book Bar SG
An informal gathering where attendees arrive with a book, read alongside others, and share notes in open discussion. Scheduling and location details are posted on Book Bar SG's social media pages.
Multilingual Reading Groups
NLB maintains reading clubs in four official languages:
- English: Book Lovers Club, TSBC, Heartlands Book Club, Singapore Literature Book Club, and others.
- Malay: Ilham Pustaka Malay Reading Club at Woodlands Regional Library, co-facilitated by local authors led by Dr Subari Sukaini, meeting on the fourth Saturday of each month.
- Chinese: Several clubs operate at branches including Bishan and Toa Payoh libraries, often focusing on contemporary Chinese-language non-fiction and poetry.
- Tamil: Tamil reading clubs are supported through NLB's community partnerships and typically meet at Geylang East and Jurong libraries.
Migrant Library Singapore Book Club
Based at Geylang East Public Library, this monthly club was established to promote reading among migrant workers. Discussions explore uncommon genres and include poetry reading, storytelling, and panel discussions, with the aim of building connections across cultural backgrounds.
Children's and Youth Clubs
Younger readers have several options, including:
- Pseudo Book Club: At Jurong Regional Library, facilitated by young adults for readers aged 13 to 19. Monthly thematic discussions.
- Pretzel Book Club by Wardah Books: A children's club at Wardah Books in Kampong Glam for ages 9 and up.
- kidsREAD: NLB's national reading programme in partnership with the People's Association, targeting children aged 4 to 8 from lower-income households. Over 100 sessions are held across the island each year.
How to Find a Club
The most reliable starting points are:
- NLB's Reading Nation page: readingnation.nlb.gov.sg
- Eventbrite Singapore: Search "book club" for upcoming sessions across the island.
- Meetup: The "book club" category lists active groups and new meetups.
- Instagram: Clubs like TSBC, Quiet Readers Club, and No Readgrets post schedules and registration links on their pages.
Most clubs are free or charge a nominal fee. No prior reading background is expected, and many specifically welcome first-time attendees.